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Route driver: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$38,770median pay per year, or $18.64 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $22,590lowest 10% earn less
  2. $30,20025th percentile
  3. $38,770median
  4. $49,00075th percentile
  5. $59,980top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A route driver, which BLS calls a Driver/Sales Worker, had median pay of $38,770 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 7.9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the rate for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7.9%[2]
Openings per year
45,500[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do route drivers make?

The median route driver earned $38,770 a year, or $18.64 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was a little higher, at $40,730 a year and $19.58 an hour[8]. For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[5]. So the route driver median sat below the all-occupations median.

Pay spreads out quite a bit across the group:

Point Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][9] $22,590 $10.86
25th percentile[4][9] $30,200 $14.52
Median[1] $38,770 $18.64
75th percentile[4][9] $49,000 $23.56
90th percentile[4][9] $59,980 $28.84

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of route drivers earned less than $22,590, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $59,980[4][10]. BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, both full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits like health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

Alaska had the highest median pay for route drivers at $48,420, followed by Iowa at $47,120 and Massachusetts at $46,870[12]. South Carolina had the lowest median among the places listed, at $22,240[12].

The most jobs were in Texas (40,950), California (34,480) and Florida (24,380)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Dubuque, IA had the highest median at $53,910, then San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $51,260[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 19,040, with a median of $44,720[15]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands had 9,820 jobs and a median of $28,880[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alaska[12]$48,4201,270
Iowa$47,1204,400
Massachusetts$46,8703,830
Vermont$46,300510
California$45,60034,480
South Dakota$45,0501,050
New Jersey$44,7209,720
Colorado$43,42010,790
Kansas$43,1801,950
New York$42,73018,990
Tennessee$42,2209,620
District of Columbia$41,6001,020
Washington$41,5705,890
New Hampshire$41,5201,990
Oregon$41,0805,210
Missouri$40,2007,590
Georgia$40,04019,150
Maine$39,9002,160
Arkansas$39,8203,170
Michigan$39,61015,490
Alabama$39,1904,310
Illinois$38,96013,680
North Dakota$38,6101,740
Maryland$38,50011,940
Arizona$38,44010,550
Pennsylvania$37,33015,100
Virginia$37,18010,780
Kentucky$37,0306,140
Connecticut$36,7303,730
North Carolina$36,54014,530
Louisiana$36,2903,200
Florida$36,26024,380
Indiana$36,25012,040
Texas$35,85040,950
Idaho$35,7702,090
Ohio$35,72020,430
Mississippi$35,4802,550
Nebraska$34,9502,590
Rhode Island$34,2301,260
Minnesota$32,9809,750
Nevada$31,7604,310
Hawaii$31,270920
Delaware$31,200n/a
New Mexico$29,7702,970
Oklahoma$29,1205,110
West Virginia$28,7902,540
Montana$27,5802,100
Wisconsin$27,56010,020
Wyoming$26,9401,140
Utah$26,5903,050
South Carolina$22,2406,430

How to become a route driver

The path into this job is short. The BLS profile covering this job also covers a wider group of delivery drivers, so these training details describe that wider group[16].

Some drivers start out as package loaders at warehouse sites, especially at large companies[23]. O*NET places this job in Job Zone 1-2, meaning very little to some preparation is needed[24].

What route drivers do

Route drivers drive a truck or other vehicle along set routes or within a territory. They deliver or sell goods such as food, or pick up items like commercial laundry[25]. O*NET lists these tasks among the most important:

O*NET sample titles include route sales representative, pizza delivery driver and driver salesman[27]. BLS also names customer service, math and sales skills as useful, along with patience in heavy traffic[28][29][30][31].

Where they work

Food services and drinking places employed 39% of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers in 2025[32]. The work is physically demanding, with a lot of lifting, carrying and walking while loading and unloading[33]. Heavy traffic and tight delivery times can add stress[33].

Light truck drivers have one of the highest injury and illness rates of all occupations[34]. Most drivers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[35]. Drivers with regular routes may need to start their day at a very early hour or work into the late evening, and weekends and holidays are common[35].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of Driver/Sales Workers to grow 7.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 442,900 to 478,100 jobs, a gain of 35,200[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, and 7.3% of route drivers were self-employed in 2025[2][36]. The pay data above counts only about 409,180 wage and salary jobs[37].

BLS expects about 45,500 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.1% move to a different occupation[38].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job that is easy to enter. It needs a high school diploma or equivalent, a state license and about a month of training or less[18]. Pay is below the all-occupations median, though the highest-paid 10% earned more than $59,980[4][5]. Pay also differs a lot by state[12]. Growth is faster than average[2][3]. The job is physically demanding and can involve early starts, late nights and weekends[33][35].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a route driver make an hour?
The median was $18.64 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $19.58[1][8]. The 10th percentile was $10.86 and the 90th was $28.84[9].
What education do you need to be a route driver?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no related experience needed[7].
How long does it take to become a route driver?
Training is on the job and lasts about 1 month or less, according to BLS[18]. This describes a wider group of delivery drivers[16].
Are route drivers in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 7.9% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 45,500 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for route drivers?
Alaska had the highest median at $48,420, then Iowa at $47,120[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Driver/Sales Workers in the US was $38,770 per year and $18.64 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Driver/Sales Workers is projected to grow 7.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 442,900 to 478,100 jobs (a change of +35,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Driver/Sales Workers: 10th percentile $22,590, 25th percentile $30,200, 75th percentile $49,000, 90th percentile $59,980. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 45,500 openings for Driver/Sales Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Driver/Sales Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Driver/Sales Workers was $40,730 per year and $19.58 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Driver/Sales Workers: 10th percentile $10.86, 25th percentile $14.52, 75th percentile $23.56, 90th percentile $28.84. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Driver/Sales Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Driver/Sales Workers jobs: Texas 40,950; California 34,480; Florida 24,380; Ohio 20,430; Georgia 19,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Driver/Sales Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Dubuque, IA $53,910; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $51,260; Merced, CA $49,290; Burlington-South Burlington, VT $49,150; Yuba City, CA $49,110; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $49,000; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $48,860; Fairbanks-College, AK $48,530. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Driver/Sales Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 19,040 (median $44,720); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 12,020 (median $41,080); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 11,130 (median $45,220); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 10,190 (median $40,490); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 9,970 (median $44,440); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 9,820 (median $28,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers" covers Driver/Sales Workers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 53-3031.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET description of Driver/Sales Workers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Driver/Sales Workers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 53-3031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Delivery Man, Driver, Driver Salesman, Pizza Delivery Driver, Route Delivery Driver, Route Driver, Route Sales Driver, Route Sales Representative. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers in 2025: Food services and drinking places 39%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS Employment Projections: 7.3% of Driver/Sales Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 409,180 people were employed as Driver/Sales Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Driver/Sales Workers: 4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.